Calgary officials and the Calgary Fire Department issued an advisory Tuesday urging the public to stay off the Bow and Elbow rivers.
The warning comes as the city manages high river flows caused by a combination of heavy rain and snowmelt. Because the region remains under a rainfall warning, the risk of sudden water level increases persists, posing a danger to anyone near the waterways.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) forecasts an additional 10 millimetres [1] of rain for Tuesday. This follows previous advisories that suggested the city could see between 50 and 100 millimetres [3] of rain, while some forecasts for the broader region over several days reached up to 100 millimetres [4].
The high-water conditions extend beyond the city center to surrounding areas, including Rocky View County near Airdrie. Officials said the rainfall warning was maintained to ensure public safety as the weather system moves through the region, with rain potentially continuing into Wednesday.
Despite the high water levels, city officials said that extensive flooding is unlikely. This confidence is attributed to infrastructure and reservoir management, which are estimated to eliminate more than 70 percent [5] of the potential damage.
Local authorities continue to monitor the situation. The Calgary Fire Department said the advisory remains in place to prevent accidents and emergencies associated with fast-moving currents, and unstable riverbanks during this period of heavy precipitation.
“Calgary officials issued an advisory Tuesday urging the public to stay off the Bow and Elbow rivers.”
The current situation highlights the tension between immediate weather volatility and long-term urban planning. While the rainfall warning and river advisories indicate a high-risk environment for individuals, the city's reliance on its flood defenses suggests a strategic shift from emergency reaction to risk mitigation. The discrepancy in rainfall forecasts underscores the difficulty of predicting precise totals during complex spring melt and rain events.
